BLM-Alaska Announces the Delta River Special Recreation Management Area Approved Plan

Glennallen, Alaska – The Bureau of Land Management in Alaska is pleased to release the Finding of No Significant Impact, Decision Record (DR) and Approved Plan for the Delta River Special Recreation Management Area (SRMA) and East Alaska Resource Management Plan Amendment (Approved Plan). This document will provide guidance for the recreational management of the Delta River SRMA for the next 15-20 years.

The Approved Plan is designed to provide for a mix of river recreation uses and users, while managing to protect the environment and Outstandingly Remarkable Values (ORV). It maintains a setting that supports diverse recreational opportunities; integrates resource protection with an appropriate range of visitor uses; contributes economically to local communities; provides multi-resource standards and direction found in other legislation, policies, or management plans designed to comply with applicable state and federal laws; and provides protection of the river’s scenic, cultural, wildlife, fisheries, and recreational ORVs.

The plan should minimize social conflicts and protect river resources through management direction that provides a strong emphasis in education and interpretive outreach. It calls for the establishment of adaptive management standards that are based on river user tolerances for different impacts. Monitoring and non-compliance with standards will drive implementation of management actions; in most cases, less-restrictive measures will be implemented prior to more-restrictive actions.

Bud Cribley, BLM-Alaska State Director commented, “I am especially pleased and grateful for all the participating stakeholders and general public who came together for this 7 year planning process. They opened up for consideration all the known issues, competing interests, opinions, and values of the public for inclusion in this plan.”

Copies of the Delta River SRMA Decision Record, Finding of No Significant Impact, and Approved Plan are available for viewing on the BLM Alaska Planning website at: http://www.blm.gov/ak/st/en/prog/planning.html. For members of the public that lack computer access, contact the BLM Glennallen Field Office by calling (907) 822-3217.

The BLM manages more than 245 million acres of public land, the most of any Federal agency. This land, known as the National System of Public Lands, is primarily located in 12 Western states, including 72 million acres in Alaska. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. The BLM's multiple-use mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of the public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations. In Fiscal Year 2012, activities on public lands generated $4.6 billion in revenue, much of which was shared with the States where the activities occurred. In addition, public lands contributed more than $112 billion to the U.S. economy and helped support more than 500,000 jobs.